The Round 20 La Liga match between Celta Vigo and Rayo Vallecano will take place on 18 January at the Balaídos stadium in Vigo. Celta Vigo vs Rayo Vallecano: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo starts 2026 without slip-ups. After a short break in La Liga, the home side thrashed Valencia (4:1), then snatched a late victory against Sevilla (1:0). That extended the club's unbeaten league run to five matches, collecting 13 points from 15 possible – the best stretch of the season for the club. It is also worth noting that in the last five La Liga games the home side has conceded only one goal – the fewest in the league over that period. The team remains in seventh place in the table, but has already caught up on points with Betis, who occupy a European spot.
- The home side scored in 16 of their previous 18 matches in the Spanish championship.
- At least two goals were scored in 15 of the club's last 16 home games in this competition.
- Celta Vigo conceded in 11 of their last 12 home fixtures in La Liga.
Potential Celta Vigo Lineup (4-4-2)*
Andrei Radu – Carl Starfelt, Marcos Alonso, Javi Rodriguez, Oscar Mingueza – Younes El-Abdellawi, Ilaix Moriba, Miguel Roman, Brian Zaragoza – Iago Aspas, Borja Iglesias.
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano had long been unable to secure a win in La Liga, but in the last round finally picked up three points by beating Mallorca (2:1). That ended an eight-match winless run in the championship and significantly improved the club's league position. The team now sits 11th in the table, with the gap to the relegation zone increased to five points. It is worth noting that the club scored more than one goal for the first time in 10 La Liga matches. Overall since the start of the current season Rayo Vallecano have 16 goals, only Getafe (15) and Oviedo (9) have scored fewer.
- At least one team failed to score in 10 of the club's previous 13 league matches.
- The club won with a handicap (+1.5) in 7 of their last 8 La Liga matches.
- No more than two goals were scored in 6 of Rayo Vallecano's last 8 matches in this competition.
Potential Rayo Vallecano Lineup (4-4-2)*
Augusto Batalla – Andrei Raciuc, Florian Lejeune, Nobel Mendy, Pep Chavarria – Isi Palazon, Oscar Valentin, Pedro Diaz, Carlos Martin – Jorge De Frutos, Alvaro Garcia.
Midfielder Pape Siss is with the national team. Defenders Andrei Raciuc, Luis Felipe, Abdul Mumin, and midfielder Unai Lopez are injured. Midfielder Oscar Valentin will be unavailable due to suspension.
Referee
Matteo Busquets (Spain)
Matches – 9 (La Liga, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 47;
Average yellow cards per match – 5.2;
Red cards shown – 2;
Fouls per match on average – 24;
Penalties – 22%.
Celta Vigo vs Rayo Vallecano: Match Prediction
Celta Vigo maintains decent form and is pushing for a European spot. The club's unbeaten run in La Liga lasts five matches, four of which were wins. At home the team has lost only 2 of their last 9 La Liga fixtures, and overall after the first half of the season the club has suffered just four defeats in 19 rounds. It is also worth noting that matches involving the home side have rarely been high-scoring: in six of the last seven league games with their involvement no more than two goals were scored.
Rayo Vallecano have only just ended a lengthy winless sequence in La Liga, and that breakthrough came against Mallorca, one of the teams near the bottom, and at their own ground. The visitors have won only 2 of their last 9 away La Liga matches, and they have gone four league games without a win before travelling to Vigo (1 draw, 3 defeats).
It is worth adding that Rayo Vallecano have taken three points in only 2 of the last 10 head-to-head league meetings, and in 9 of those 10 games no more than three goals were scored.
Prediction: Celta Vigo Win Or Draw + Under 3.5 goals
* For each team the starting lineup shown is from its previous match in this competition.